New York Secession
New York Secession There have many plans to break up New York State Starting about 150 years ago. Here is a list of the modern ones
1993 to Present Staten Island secession from New York City
In 1993 Staten Island (Richmond County) got permission from the New York State Legislature for a non-binding referendum to allow it to secede from New York City which currently contains five counties. Then New York City’s-Mayor David Dinkins opposed the vote. The greater than 65 percent Staten Island voters voted yes and called for electing a seven member charter commission to draft a new Richmond County and independent city Staten Island charters; if charters were approved by the Richmond County voters Staten Island would secede from NYC. All that remains is for the New York State Legislature to ratify the vote to allow the election of the charter commission. However the bill to ratify vote has never gotten out of the New York State Legislature’s committee in recently years it has not been introduced. Since there is no time limit on ratification it can be ratified at any time. Staten Island
1997 to Present Peconic County secession from Suffolk County
In 1997 the towns of East Hampton, Riverhead, Shelter Island, Southampton and Southold, and the Indian Reservation in eastern Suffolk got permission from the New York State Legislature for a non-binding referendum to allow it to secede from Suffolk County and form a new County of Peconic. Over 70 percent of the Peconic county voters voted yes and called for electing a seven member charter commission to draft a charter for the new County if charters was approved by the Peconic County voters the new county would be created. However the bill to ratify vote has never gotten out of the New York State Legislature’s committee in recently years it has not been introduced. Since there is no time limit on ratification it can be ratified at any time. Peconic County
2003 & 2008 NYC 51st State
In 2003, and again in 2008 bills were introduced in the New York City Council for the secession of New York City from New York State to become the 51st state. NYC 51st State
2010 Long Island 51st State
In 2012 on Long Island, Suffolk County comptroller and former state assemblyman Joseph Sawicki called Long Island (Nassau & Suffolk Counties) to become the 51st state Long Island 51st State
2013-Present Two Autonomous Regions
A Divide NYS Caucus Secession plan calls for Two Autonomous Regions the New Amsterdam Region (upstate) and the New York Region (downstate) alongside a token state government to comply with the US Constitution. The token NYS government that remains would have about the same power as the Queen of England! Because they are creating regions not a new state or moving counties between states; Congress can be legally bypassed. If NYS Legislature fails to act, this plan also has the option to bypass the NYS Legislature; because every twenty years the people of NYS get to vote on whether to hold a NY State Constitutional Convention. If the voters vote YES on the NYS Convention, Delegates are elected for the Convention the following November. The Convention can then submit an amendment to divide NY State into regions with token state government directly to the voters. The next time the Convention vote will be held is Nov 2017. Two Autonomous Regions for NYS